Common questions I receive
from puppy owners, dog trainers and veterinarians concern: 1) what is the most
favorable age or period of time when puppies learn best? 2) what are the health
implications of my advice that veterinarians and trainers should offer socialization
programs for puppies starting at 8 to 9 weeks of age.

Puppies begin learning at
birth and their brains appear to be particularly responsive to learning and
retaining experiences that are encountered during the first 13 to 16 weeks after
birth. This means that breeders, new puppy owners, veterinarians, trainers
and behaviorists have a responsibility to assist in providing these learning/socialization
experiences with other puppies/dogs, with children/adults and with various environmental
situations during this optimal period from birth to 16 weeks.

Many veterinarians are making
this early socialization and learning program part of a total wellness plan
for breeders and new owners of puppies during the first 16 weeks of a puppy’s
life -- the first 7-8 weeks with the breeder and the next 8 weeks with the new
owners. This socialization program should enroll puppies from 8 to 12 weeks
of age as a key part of any preventive medicine program to improve the bond
between pets and their people and keep dogs as valued members of the family
for 12 to 18 years.

To take full advantage of
this early special learning period, many veterinarians recommend that new owners
take their puppies to puppy socialization classes, beginning at 8 to 9 weeks
of age. At this age they should have (and can be required to have) received
a minimum of their first series of vaccines for protection against infectious
diseases. This provides the basis for increasing immunity by further repeated
exposure to these antigens either through natural exposure in small doses or
artificial exposure with vaccines during the next 8 to 12 weeks. In addition
the owner and people offering puppy socialization should take precautions to
have the environment and the participating puppies as free of natural exposure
as possible by good hygiene and caring by careful instructors and owners.

Experience and epidemiologic
data support the relative safety and lack of transmission of disease in these
puppy socialization classes over the past 10 years in many parts of the United
States. In fact; the risk of a dog dying because of infection with distemper
or parvo disease is far less than the much higher risk of a dog dying (euthanasia)
because of a behavior problem. Many veterinarians are now offering new puppy
owners puppy socialization classes in their hospitals or nearby training facilities
in conjunction with trainers and behaviorists because they want socialization
and training to be very important parts of a wellness plan for every puppy.
We need to recognize that this special sensitive period for learning is the
best opportunity we have to influence behavior for dogs and the most important
and longest lasting part of a total wellness plan.

Are there risks? Yes. But
10 years of good experience and data, with few exceptions, offers veterinarians
the opportunity to generally recommend early socialization and training classes,
beginning when puppies are 8 to 9 weeks of age. However, we always follow a
veterinarian’s professional judgment, in individual cases or situations, where
special circumstances warrant further immunization for a special puppy before
starting such classes. During any period of delay for puppy classes, owners
should begin a program of socialization with children and adults, outside their
family, to take advantage of this special period in a puppy’s life.

If there are further questions,
veterinarians may call me at 651-644-7400 for discussion and clarification.

- Robert K. Anderson DVM,
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine and Diplomate
of American College of Veterinary Behaviorists